Toasting

At this moment, inside private room 888 at Tianshui Garden, a group of seven or eight young men and women were gathered together. Leading the group was a young man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, with a handsome face and a tall, slender figure—none other than Qian Qingping, a well-known second-generation rich kid in their social circle.

Seated beside Qian Qingping was a young woman in her early twenties. Her face was round yet exquisitely delicate, with short hair framing her chin, bright expressive eyes, and two shallow dimples that added to her feminine charm. She was Qian Qingping's girlfriend and fiancée, and her identity was anything but simple—she was Chen Yanyan, daughter of Chen Baibing, the CEO of the renowned local company, Baixi Group.

The others present were also young men and women, mostly children of Chengdu’s wealthy and influential families. Some were couples, while others were simply there for the company and amusement.

"Qian, I have a high school classmate nearby. Is it alright if I invite him to join us?" Gao Xiaohua asked cautiously after finishing a phone call, standing before Qian Qingping.

"It's fine. Since he's your friend, let him come. The more, the merrier," Qian Qingping replied with a casual wave of his hand, not giving it much thought.

"Hey, fatso, who is this classmate of yours? Does his family have any background?" Chen Yanyan asked with interest from the side.

"He's not from our circle, but he was this year's top scorer in the province's liberal arts college entrance exam. He's bound to be an elite in society someday, so I thought I'd invite him to meet everyone," Gao Xiaohua replied quickly.

"Wow, a provincial exam top-scorer! That's rare. None of us here has ever been a top-scorer. Let's see what one looks like," Chen Yanyan laughed, and the others joined in upon hearing the news.

"Exactly! A top-scorer sounds so impressive. Imagine having a top-scorer little brother at our beck and call—how cool would that be?" joked a guy named Chu Zilin with exaggerated mirth.

"Chu, you’re kidding," Gao Xiaohua said with a forced laugh, but inside he was uneasy, unsure if inviting Chen Fengyun was a good idea.

A little over ten minutes later, Chen Fengyun arrived at Tianshui Garden's main hall and made his way toward private room 888 as directed. He found Gao Xiaohua waiting at the door, but something about the latter's expression seemed off.

"Fatty, this place is a bit much, isn’t it? It looks so fancy inside—I bet a meal here costs over ten thousand," Chen Fengyun remarked, clapping Gao Xiaohua on the shoulder.

"Madman, I'm just glad you came. But listen, everyone inside is really arrogant, way richer and more powerful than my family. If they say anything out of line, I apologize in advance. Just don't take it to heart," Gao Xiaohua warned him.

"Oh, don't worry. If you weren't here, they probably couldn’t even get me to show up. For your sake, I won't hold anything against them," Chen Fengyun replied, immediately understanding his friend’s predicament. For friendship’s sake, he didn't mind.

"Hey, fatso, is this your top-scorer buddy? Bring him in already—don't keep Qian waiting," just then, the door swung open and Chu Zilin appeared, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Alright, Chu, we're just finishing up. We'll come right in," Gao Xiaohua answered, pulling Chen Fengyun into the private room and shutting the door behind them.

"Qian, everyone, this is my brother Chen Fengyun, this year’s top scorer in the province’s liberal arts exam. Madman, this is Qian, this is Chen, Chu, Zhou, Fang, Zhang, Sun, and Mao," Gao Xiaohua introduced each of the well-heeled group.

"Hello, everyone," Chen Fengyun greeted them, his gaze sweeping calmly over the group, nodding slightly.

They were a little taken aback. Contrary to their expectations, Chen Fengyun did not fawn over them or try to curry favor; his composure was almost unsettling.

"A top-scorer indeed—such presence," Qian Qingping said with a wave, stopping Chu Zilin, who looked ready to speak. He motioned for the two to sit.

"Madman, sit here," Gao Xiaohua said, seating Chen Fengyun beside him. On Chen’s other side sat a girl named Mao Yuqin, with long dyed yellow hair and heavy makeup that, under a streetlamp, might have gotten her mistaken for a streetwalker.

As soon as Chen Fengyun sat down, the waiters began to bring out the dishes. The others, who had been chatting or on their phones, put away their devices in anticipation of the meal. Chen Fengyun noted that Tianshui Garden’s food lived up to its reputation—an array of seafood dazzled the eye, their vibrant colors and enticing aromas whetting the appetite.

Especially Gao Xiaohua, who was a true foodie; his eyes almost popped out at the sight of the dishes, and he seemed ready to drool.

"Fatty, since your friend is joining our circle for the first time, shouldn’t he offer everyone a drink?" Before they could begin eating, a guy named Zhou Fangming stood up and addressed Gao Xiaohua loudly.

"Zhou’s right. We should show our respect. I’ll join my brother and toast everyone," Gao Xiaohua said quickly, smiling as he raised his glass.

"Fatty, that’s not how it works. The tradition is for the newcomer to drink a full glass first, then toast everyone else. Come on, our top-scorer here must be up for the challenge—surely he won’t refuse a toast to Qian," another guy, Fang Xu, said as he brought over a full measuring glass, at least two taels of strong liquor—enough to make anyone queasy on an empty stomach.

"Fang, we haven’t even started eating—this might be too much for him. How about I have some soup first and drink for him? He doesn’t usually drink," Gao Xiaohua offered, glancing at Chen Fengyun and then at Qian Qingping, hoping for help.

But Qian Qingping, leaning back in his chair and smoking with a smile, seemed entertained by the scene and made no move to help. There was a hint of disdain in his gaze, well concealed but not lost on Chen Fengyun.

"Fatty, sit down," Chen Fengyun said, pulling Gao Xiaohua back. He stood, picked up the measuring glass, and swept his gaze over the group, making some feel as if their innermost thoughts were suddenly laid bare.

"As Gao Xiaohua’s brother, I’d like to thank all of you for looking out for him. This drink is for you," Chen Fengyun said calmly, his tone devoid of emotion.

But the meaning was clear: I’m here for Gao Xiaohua. I drink this for him, because you’ve treated him well. If not for that, you might not be qualified for my respect.